CS:GO pro players blast iBUYPOWER event after multiple issues

Reddit/Dexerto

A number of prominent Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players have criticized the iBuyPower Masters event that took place from January 19 through 20.

The tournament, which took place in California, ran into issues from the get-go with the first game of day one being delayed for close to three hours. A number of games had to be played off-stream to make up for the time lost.

Players also complained about a lack of quality monitors and even the availability of noise-cancelling headphones so that they could play without hearing the crowd and other sounds in the venue. 

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There were also issues for spectators at the arena as they could only watch games on small TV screens. 

Team Liquid’s Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dunkel, Tweeted after his team’s first game: “Gg @Luminosity, this event is a joke and I feel bad for all players.”

The Canadian went on to say: “Feels like they didnt have enough experience or time to make it what it could have been. Playing on a setup on a balcony over viewing the main game with a crowd behind us, no noise cancelling headphones, limited desk space and the monitors are below standard”

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After being eliminated from the event, Cloud9’s Swedish star Robin ‘Flusha’ Ronnquist posted:  “Glad to be going home from this trash tournament.”

His sentiments were echoed by his fellow Swede, FaZe Clan’s Olof ‘Olofmeister’ Kajbjer, who said: “Done here at iBUYPOWER and we played poorly and it was the same conditions for everyone so I don’t want to take away anything from ghost but this event is one of the top3 worst events I’ve been too in my career.”

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Team Liquid eventually claimed the tournament victory, coming back to defeat Astralis 2-1 in the best-of-three final after losing the opening map – Inferno – by a scoreline of 16-4.

Place Team and winnings
1st Team Liquid ($100,000)
2nd Astralis ($40,000)
3-4 Fnatic ($17,000)
3-4 Ghost Gaming ($17,000)
5-6 Cloud9 ($8,000)
5-6 FaZe Clan ($8,000)
7-8 compLexity ($5,000)
7-8 Luminosity($5,000)